Bucks 135-102 Celtics (Jan 11, 2024) Sport Recap – ESPN

Giannis Antetokounmpo throws down the large dunk early vs. the Celtics.
MILWAUKEE — — Dealing with the NBA-leading Boston Celtics acquired the Milwaukee Bucks to interrupt out of their hunch and ship their most dominating efficiency of the season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo desires to verify the Bucks keep that very same sense of urgency after they’re taking part in much less formidable foes.
“There was a respect-slash-fear issue additionally that is essential for this crew, that we’ve to go on the market and play at our greatest right now,” Antetokounmpo mentioned after the Bucks trounced the tired-looking Celtics 135-102 on Thursday for simply their second win in six video games.
Bobby Portis and Antetokounmpo mixed to attain 20 straight factors throughout a 25-0 spurt halfway via the primary half. The Bucks led by as many as 43 factors in Jrue Vacation’s return to Milwaukee, and their 75-38 lead on the break was their fourth-biggest halftime benefit in franchise historical past.
“Hopefully we are able to hold this up not simply towards the Boston Celtics, not simply when we’ve two days off or not when we’ve not performed nicely,” Antetokounmpo added. “Even when we’ve performed nicely and even when we’ve performed unhealthy, be capable to come within the recreation and play with the identical urgency and with the identical focus and with the identical vitality.”
The Bucks hadn’t performed a recreation since losing 132-116 at house to the Utah Jazz on Monday in a recreation they’d trailed by 31 at halftime. The Celtics had been again in motion one night time after beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-120 in additional time.
Bucks guard Malik Beasley mentioned the Bucks had a gathering after the Jazz recreation on easy methods to enhance that targeted primarily on taking part in with extra effort and vitality.
“I believe we did that,” Beasley mentioned. “We got here out and competed. I believe the principle factor for us, we got here out bodily. We hit first as an alternative of getting hit.”
Portis scored 28, Antetokounmpo added 24 and each gamers had 12 rebounds. Damian Lillard chipped in 21 factors whereas returning to Milwaukee’s lineup after lacking the Jazz recreation for private causes.
“I really like the best way we responded,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin mentioned. “We responded like champions right now.”
Boston allowed its highest level whole of the season and rested all its starters for your complete second half. The Bucks didn’t play any of their starters within the fourth quarter.
Payton Pritchard scored 21 and Sam Hauser 15 for the Celtics, who missed 16 of their first 17 3-point makes an attempt and ended up going 9 of 34 from past the arc. Milwaukee shot 56.5% general.
“We simply did not have it tonight,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned. “That may occur sometimes.”
After Boston’s Oshae Brissett dunked to chop Milwaukee’s result in 31-23 with 2:14 remaining within the first quarter, the Celtics would not rating once more for over 6 1/2 minutes.
Portis scored 13 factors and Antetokounmpo had seven throughout that 25-0 spurt. Portis, who had been 1 of 12 from 3-point vary this month, was 5 of 6 from past the arc on Thursday.
Vacation scored six factors and shot 2 of 9 in his first recreation at Milwaukee for the reason that Bucks traded him in September as a part of the package deal to accumulate Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers. Portland sent him to the Celtics a couple of days later.
Vacation performed for the Bucks from 2020-23. He acquired a standing ovation when a tribute video aired on the Fiserv Discussion board scoreboard throughout the recreation’s first timeout.
“It was cool to sort of see that,” Vacation mentioned “The followers right here have at all times been nice.”
UP NEXT
Celtics: Host the Houston Rockets on Saturday.
Bucks: Host the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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